2 Ashland High seniors attend state GOP Convention

BOSTON - Two Ashland High School seniors recently attended the state Republican Convention, under the sponsorship of the Ashland Republican Town Committee.

Genna Heaps and Helena Nicholson attended with the Ashland delegation to the convention along with another 2,500 delegates from across Massachusetts. The trip was a chance to see the political nomination process and to meet the candidates, including the GOP nominee for governor, Charlie Baker.

In a press release from the Ashland GOP committee, Nicholson said, "Going to the†... convention expanded my knowledge of politics and helped me further my interest in possibly studying politics in college. I gained front line experience on the dynamics of campaigning and the minute details that often go unnoticed.

†"Amid the problems discussed at the convention I learned about pressing issues in Massachusetts, such as the increasing gas tax. Besides learning about politics, I gained a greater understanding on how to keep the attention of the audience by witnessing numerous speakers who spoke with ease at the convention," Nicholson said.

Heaps said she also found the convention an interesting learning experience.

"To live in such a liberal state and to hear so many people proudly cheering for the tea party was definitely unique," she said in the release. "I'm not sure myself where I stand politically, but seeing the convention attendees (largely white, male, over 40) made me think about how such a small, mainly homogenous percentage of the population makes the decisions for Massachusetts and the nation, regardless of political ideology."

Heaps added that she "may not support the Republican candidate,"†but said said she plans to register as soon as she turns 18, "and I hope others will do the same."